Stkessek



(No Model.)

H. H. BER-KSTRESSER.

TRACE HOLDER.

No. 582,034. Patented May 4, 1897.

OE WQ 0. 031mm.

M Snow mas ROBERT E. BERKSTRESSER, or YORK, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRACE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,034, dated May 4, 1897.

A li tio fil d November 9, 1896. Serial No. 611,544. (No mcdeli) To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ROBERT I-l. BERK- srnnssnn, a citizen of the United States,-residing at York, in the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements. in Trace- Holders; and I do herebydeclare the f0llowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' My invention relates to improvements in trace-fasteners for securing the traces of harness to the Whiffletrees of vehicles; and its object is to provide a simple and economical fastener or hook which can be readily secured to the ordinary whiftletrees now in use.

The invention consists, essentially, in a metal plate, an oppositely-extending lug at each end projecting-"beyond the side of the plate and provided with apertures for the passage of screws for securing it to a whiffietree, and said plate provided with apertured lugs intermediate said lugs, the'hook journaled to said lugs, having its end bent at a right angle and formed with a lug adapted to engage with an aperture in the whiffletrce, and a spring secured to the hook and bearing upon said plate,as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trace-fastener constructed according to my invention, showing the same applied to a whiffietree. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fi g. 3 is a plan view of the plate. Fig. at is a detail sectional view.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates a whiffletree of any ordinary or suitable construction provided with a rectangular recess 2 near the end and an intersecting aperture 2.

The numeral 3 designates the fastener, consisting of the plate 4:, having at opposite ends a lateral lug 5, projecting outwardly in an opposite direction beyond the sides of the plate 4 and provided with holes or apertures for the passage of screws 6, by which it is secured to the whiffietree. These lugs project beyond the plane of the plate, so that the screws can be readily inserted in the holes therein and secured into the whiffletree. Said plate on the outer side, intermediate of said lugs, is provided with two lugs 7, to which is connected a hook 8, consisting of a rectangular arm 9, having apertured lugs 10, coinciding with the lugs '7 and through which passes a pivot 12, by which the arm is pivotally connected with the plate. One end of this arm is formed with a finger.- hold 13, while the other end extends outwardly and is bent at a right angle, forming a short arm 14:, adapted to engage with the recess 2 in the whiffletree, and is provided with a lug 15, which engages with the aperture or hole 2. Secured to the under side of arm 9 is a spring 16, passing between the pivot 12 and the arm and its free end abutting against the plate 4.

The operation will be readily understood. The trace to be connected to the whiffletree is provided with a hole or slot and is slipped over the end of the whiffletree, so as to come between the plate 4 and the recess 2. The curved spring will now cause the hook to be depressed, so that the end of arm 14 will engage with the recess 2 and the lug 15 enter the hole 2. By this means the trace will be securely connected with the whiffletree without liability of accidental disengagement, yet can be readily disconnected, when desired, by depressing the finger piece of the hook, which will elevate the hook or arm 14: and allow the trace to he slipped off.

By the above construction the lug at the bent end of the pivoted arm entering the recess in the whiffletree in advance of said arm prevents the said bent end from striking and wearing away the walls of the recess. I Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is In a trace hook or fastener, the combination with the plate having a laterally-extending apertured lug at opposite ends projecting beyond the side of the plate and formed with screw-holes, the apertured lugs on the outer and central intersecting hole, substantially face of said plate, the arm having coinciding as described. I lugs, the pivot-pin, the spring secured to In testimony whereof I affix my signature said arm, and the said arm having one end in presence of two Witnesses.

bent at right angles forming a short arm, the ROBERT H. BERKSTRESSER. lug at the extremity thereof, and the finger- Witnesses:

piece at the inner end of the pivoted arm, of W. E. GARTMAN,

the Whiffletree having a rectangular recess ROYAL E. BURNHAM. 

